How AIT and Facebook Reported President Buhari Dead

How AIT and Facebook Reported President Buhari Dead

Muhammadu Buhari, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, GCFR, died last week or so it was bandied.

Buhari was either dead or on a life support device somewhere in a German or United Kingdom hospital but certainly not alive, they publicised jubilantly.

Everybody else who amplified the spooky story quoted an ‘online publication.’ What the originators of the story have not been able to do is to show us Buhari’s grave or tell us the date, location and time of his funeral. Apparently, the President is still walking the earth and not below it yet.

Analysts have already fingered the African Independent Television (AIT) in the origination and circulation of this tasteless rumour. Everyone knows that there has been no love lost between the television station and Buhari.

Ahead of his inauguration in May, 2015, his handlers had sought to bar the station from covering the President-elect’s activities. Later, the Buhari government would arraign Chief Alegho Raymond Dokpesi, the proprietor of the television station, at the High Court for his alleged role in the mismanagement of funds meant to purchase arms to fight Boko Haram, better known as Dasukigate, during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The media mogul and politician has himself been caught in one controversy after another and has practically put his broadcasting stations at the service of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to which he belongs.

However, the management of Daar Communications has vehemently denied being the source of the rumour of President Buhari’s death. They said they were not the owners of ‘the FACEBOOK Account purportedly being operated by our organisation, adding “it is falsehood dressed in truth that we opened such FACEBOOK Account.

They maintained that “the FACEBOOK Account was the brain child of some faceless and mischievous group that should be investigated by security agencies. We did not publish nor know anything about the report. …..We also disown the so called FACEBOOK Account and have officially reported to FACEBOOK Managers.”

The President is gone to London just a little over a week ago and wailers are happy purveyors of the satanic rumour that Buhari is dead, but is he? Was Buhari even supposed to be elected in 2014 or live this long? Was he not said to be brain dead long before now? Was it not said that he had cancer and was on the verge of death? Buhari’s adversaries never gave him a chance and it is not surprising that they still don’t wish him well.

On its part, the Presidency has strenuously worked to dispel the rumour of the death of Buhari by releasing series of photographs. Earlier, they had released a photo of the President talking to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo via a mobile phone. The President was shown seated on sofa in a living room in a house in London with his feet placed on the centre table as he watched one of his favourite stations, the Channels Television.

Unsurprisingly, the rumour became even more heightened with skeptics claiming that the picture was doctored. Thereafter, the Presidency circulated another picture showing President Buhari seated on a sofa alongside Senator Daisy Danjuma, in the same house in London as he chatted with her, Governor Ibikunle Amosun and another guest. The last of the series of pictures released by the Presidency was that of ‘dead’ Buhari and his wife Aisha.

Mercifully, President Buhari doesn’t owe the wailers anything: he is entitled to take a rest; it is within his rights to see his doctors while looking after his health; he has communicated his absence to the Senate and House of Representatives in line with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 constitution (as amended); he has relinquished presidential powers to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who is already actingin his absence, what else do they want from Buhari?

Some busy bodies have made the puerile demands that the President addresses the country to ‘prove’ that he is alive. Journalists had asked Buhari about the same matter at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport when he was leaving the country and he answered them accordingly: “What is wrong with going on vacation? Didn’t I go last year……?

The fictionalisation of Buhari’s death indicates how much he is hated by his adversaries; they want nothing but the utter failure of this government, but preferably his demise. It is the reason why those who claim to love President Buhari should re-examine their conduct and ask themselves what is it that they have contributed to the success or otherwise of his government.

Upon his return, President Buhari must re-invigorate his government. President Buhari should take steps to inject urgency and strong purpose in his administration. He has to succeed, he has to disgorge the loot from those who helped themselves from the treasury before they use it to rubbish him and the country, he must enhance security, he must ensure stable electricity supply; more importantly, he must redeem the North. If Buhari’s government fails (God forbid), our hope for further claim on the leadership of this country will have been dashed.

In the meantime, I know President Muhammadu Buhari is alive or he has resurrected. I maintain my confidence in him and his government; I believe that he means well for Nigeria and God will give him the sufficient health to improve the quality of life of our citizens.

I admit that we are in difficulties at the moment, however, I remain hopeful that we will overcome and our country has a bright future. I am not anxious about President Buhari’s health at all and I trust that come February 6, he will resume work hale and hearty, notwithstanding the ill will of his adversaries.